Australia PM announces plan to restrict access to social media for kids

Australia is set to become one of the first countries to put age restrictions on social media. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an age verification trial on Tuesday, Sept. 10, before introducing age restrictions later this year. He said the minimum age requirement would likely be between 14 and 16 years old.

However, digital rights advocates warn that restrictions could push children to unsafe underground online activities. Australia's internet regulator, the e-safety commissioner, previously warned that "restrictions-based approaches may limit young people's access to critical support" and lead them to "less regulated non-mainstream services."

Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, already has a self-imposed minimum age of 13, and said it wants young people to benefit from its platforms while giving parents the tools to support them "instead of just cutting off access."

Proponents argue a minimum age requirement encourages kids to stay active while minimizing potential negative impacts of social media on young people's mental health.

The age restriction plan comes amid an Australian Parliamentary probe into the effects of social media on society , which shed light on the mental health crisis among teenagers harmed by online activity.

Australia isn't the only country cracking down on social media and digital device use among kids. States across the U.S. have introduced cellphone bans in schools, and the U.S. Department of Education is poised to release new guidelines on cell phone use in schools come October.

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